UCLA women's basketball player Gabriela Jaquez joins softball team for postseason

UCLA just added a player to their softball roster for the 2024 postseason… and she comes from the Bruins’ women’s basketball team.

According to Justin McLeod of D1Softball, UCLA women’s forward Gabriela Jaquez has decided to join the softball team for the postseason after she had played softball back in high school. McLeod tweeted that news Tuesday:

“UCLA WBB forward Gabriela Jaquez has joined the Bruins’ softball roster & will wear #32 for the postseason. Jaquez played high school softball in Camarillo, CA and was HS teammates with current Bruin infielder Rylee Pinedo.”

McLeod also provided a statement on the surprise addition to the team from head UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez:

“We are excited to welcome Gabriela Jaquez into our Bruin softball family! Gabriela is a fierce competitor and will add to the depth and versatility of our running game this postseason. As a standout student-athlete on the UCLA women’s basketball team, Gabriela recognizes and upholds our strong Bruin values.”

Jaquez averaged 10 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game as the first player off the bench for a Bruin basketball team that finished 27-7, second place in the Pac-12 and made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before losing to reigning champions LSU.

The Jaquez name is also familiar to the UCLA men’s basketball team. Her brother is former UCLA men’s basketball star Jaime Jaquez, who was the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year and a Consensus All-American for the 2022-23 season. He also helped lead the Bruins to the 2021 Final Four before ultimately going pro after the 2023 season and was drafted by the Miami Heat with the 18th overall pick in the first round.